The former managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) Plc, Fola Adeola has debunked speculations that he is interested in contesting for the governorship of the western Nigerian state of Ogun. Posters and banners of the former vice Presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN in the 2011 election were yesterday seen in many strategic locations in Abeokuta. But in a telephone interview today, Adeola vehemently denied ever nursing such ambition to challenge Governor Ibikunle Amosun for the seat. The former banker said: “I knew nothing about the campaign and to let you know,I have not been to Abeokuta in the last three months.I have no problems with Governor Ibikunle Amosun and if there is any, I will personally discuss it with him and not challenging his seat with him. “I am not interested in the governorship race. On the posters, I don’t know, I haven’t reached Abeokuta in three months. I am not, if I am interested I will know what to do and I will publicly admit, I am not”,Adeola said.

On why he was absent at the official launch of APC in Ogun State on Monday, Adeola said,: “I wasn’t in the Country during the hoisting of APC flag. I know we have an existing Governor and I have no problem with him whatsoever. If I have anything against him, I will tell him.” On the speculation that Adeola’s ambition has damaged the relationship between Ogun State government and GTB, leading to the bank stopping a N16.2 billion facility given the state, Adeola said he has no hand in whatever happened in the bank since he left 11 years ago. “I don’t work in GTB. I left 11 years ago. I don’t sit on its board. I don’t work in its management, so I don’t even know there’s any facility from GTB. I left GTB in 2002 and this is 2013. So I can’t answer a question on what GTB has done or what they hadn’t done or what the government has done with a bank. They have a management, they have a board”,he declared. The state commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu described the posters as the handiwork of mischievous people He described Adeola as a man of good quality and high taste who relates with Governor Amosun and people in government very well. In his view, Adeola would have settled for posters which do not even befit a councillor. According to the Information Comissioner, “Has Mr Fola confirmed he authored the posters and banners? I am sure those are works of mischievous people. That is why those banners are that cheap. Not even a councillor will do such banners.I know Mr. Adeola is a man of good quality and high taste and he relates very well with the governor and most of us in the government”.